Kawasaki is a well known performance oriented Japanese bike maker that has a wide range of motorcycles including supersports, tourer, cruiser and dual purpose bikes. One of the latest additions in the supersports lineup is the Kawasaki Z1000. The bike is a looker that offers strong performance alongside practical high-tech features. The Kawasaki Z1000 boasts a full faired styling that reflects its serious performance oriented nature. The design is sleek and lean consisting of attractive elements such as the chunky exhaust, LED tail lights and the broad tank.
The Kawasaki Z1000 comes with lime green, black and grey colour options. Powering the beast is a 1043cc, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, in-line four-cylinder engine that produces a peak power of 142 PS at 10,000 RPM and peak torque of 111 Nm at 7300 RPM, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The bike is sculpted on a aluminium twin-tube frame that comes with inverted forks at the front and horizontal back-link suspension at the rear. In terms of braking, it features dual 300 mm petal discs at the front and 250 mm single petal disc at the rear.
With ABS, the Kawasaki Z1000 weighs exactly 231 kgs. You can switch between full and low power modes depending upon the weather and traffic conditions. Then there is 3-mode traction control system that varies depending upon sport riding, cornering or riding in wet conditions. It also comes with economical riding indicator and dual throttle valves. The Kawasaki W800 on the other hand is a sober classic motorcycle with traditional styling elements and retro design. It comes only with a black colour option and looks classy with shiny chrome bits.
The Kawasaki W800 is powered by a 773cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, V-twin engine that produces a maximum power output of 48 PS at 6500 RPM with a peak torque of 60 Nm at 2500 RPM, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. It sits on a double-cradle, high tensile steel frame that features 39 mm telescopic fork at the front and twin shock springs at the rear. The brakes consist of single 300 mm disc at the front and 160 mm drum at the rear. The W800 has a fuel capacity of 14 litres and weighs 217 kgs.
Kawasaki could launch the W800 and Z1000 in the Indian market as these motorcycles have high desirability. The Japanese automaker is looking at expanding its large bike portfolio which currently consists of the ZX-10R and ZX-14R. Both these bikes could be a sensible launch as demand for such machines is increasing and Triumph plans to offer similar alternatives. If launched, the W800 is expected to cost around Rs. 8 lakhs while the Z1000 would retail around Rs. 10 lakhs.
